Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-27
toward him. and renders her cold and
unSHmnathetic in his nreSence

unsympathetic in his presence.
No, she Will have no tickle lover
And yet, how kind he is-how earnest.
! how honest in his glancel Oh, that she
could believe all the past to be an evil
dream, and think of him again as her
very own, as in the dear old days gone
! by!
Even while thinking this she idly
! opens a book lying on the table near
her, where some brushes and paint are
! scattered. A piece of paper drops from
/ between its leaves and flutters to the
! ground. Lifting 1T, she sees it is the
letter written by him to Dora, which
| the latter had brought to her, here to
! this very room, when asking her adj
vice as to whether she should or should
not meet him by appointment in the
| lime-Walk.
She drops the letter hurriedly. as
! though its very touch StingS her, and,
rousing herself with bitter self-con-
| tempt from her sentimental regrets,
| works vigorously at her painting for
about an hour, then, growing wearied,
! she filings her brushes aside, and goes
| to the morning-room, where she knows
! she will find all the others assembled.
There is nobody here just now how
! ever, except Sir Adrian, who is looking
| rather tired and bored, and Ethel Viii
! ierS. The latter, seeing Florence enter,
| gladly gathers up her work and runs
away to have turn in the garden with
! Captain Ringwood.
Florence, though sorry for this tete-a
| tete that has been forced upon her, Sits
| down calmly enough, and, taking up a
book, prepares to read aloud to Sir Adj
| rlan.
But he stops her. Putting out his
ho Of Int n 1- al In
| book, and then says:
Not to-day, Florence; I want to
| speak to you instead
Anything you wish" responds Flor
| ence steadily, though her heart is beat
ing hastily.
"Are you sorry that-that my unhap-
py cousin proved so unWOrthy?" he
asks at last, touching upon this subject
with q good deal Of nervousness. He
can not forget that once she had loved
this miserable man.
"One must naturally feel sorry that
anything human could be guilty of
such an awful intention" she returns
gently, but with the utmost uncOncern.
Sir Adrian stares. Was he mistaken
then? Did she never really care for
the fellow, or is this some Of what Mrs.
Talbot has designated as FlOrence's
'sIyness"? No, once for all he would
not believe that the pure, sweet, true
face looking SO steadily into his could
be guilty of anything underhand or
| base.
at was false that you loved him
| them" he questions, following out the
train of his own thoughts rather than
the meaning Of her last words.
"That [ loved Mr.. DynecOurt!" she
repeats in amazement, her color rising.
hot yt,,aN limo 70
into your head! To; r. ss:fy ttffiffiig, I con
fess [ felt for your cousin nothing but
| contempt and dislike"
Then, Florence, what has come be-
| tween us?" he eXclaims, Selling her
hand. you must have known that /
| loved you many weeks ago. Nay, long
before last season came to q close; and
then / believe-forgiye my presump-
tiOn-that you too loved me-"
"YOur belief was true one," she re-
turns calmly, tears standing in heI
beautiful eyes. "But you, by your own
act, severed u.s."
81 did?"
Eyes. Nay, Sir Adrian, be honest in
your dealings with me as I am with
you, and confess the truth"
Il don't know what you mean" de-
clareS Adrian, in utter beWilderment:
you would tell me that you think if
was some act Of mine that--that ruined
my chance with your"
"YOu know it WaS"- reproachfully.
81 know nothing of the kind"-hotiy.
II only know that [ have always loved
you and only you, and that I shall
never love another"
"You f0rget-Dora Talbot" SAYS
Florence, in very low tone. Il think,
Sir Adrian, your late GOODNESS to heI
has been neither kind nor just"
Il have never been either colder or
warmer to Dora Talbot than 7 have
been to any other ordinary acquaint-
ance Of mine" returns Sir Adrian,
with considerable excitement. "1ne1o
is surely a terrible mistake some
where"
''Do you mean to tell me-" says Flor
ence, rising in her agitation, that you
never spoke of love to Dorap
Certainly [ spoke of lOve-of my love
for you," he declares vehemently.
THAT you shall suppose [ ever felt any
thing for Mrs. Talbot but the mSst or
binary friendship seems incredible to
me. TOY you, and you alone, my heart
has been given many day. Not the
vaguest tenderness for any other wo-
man has come between my thoughts
and your image since first we met"
~ uu6l0 Was yOuI 1oN6-ISUG6t W
her-I read it with my own eyes!" de-
clares Florence family.
II never wrote Mrs. Talbot line in
my life,' says Sir Adrian, more and
more puzzled.
"You will tell me next / did not see
you kissing her hand in the Ime-waik
last September?" pursues Florence,
flushing hOtly with shame and indigna-
ton.
"You did not" he declares vehement
ly. Il swear it. Of what else are you
going to accuse me? never wrote to
her, and [ never kissed her hand"
1T is better for us not to discuss this
matter any longer" saysMiss Delmaine,
rising from her seat. and for the
future I can nOt-Will not-read to YOU
here in the morning. Let us make an
end Of this false friendship now at
once and forever"
! She moves toward the door as she
speaks, but he, closely following, over
takes her, and putting his back against
| the door, SO bars her egresS.
lie has been forbidden exertiOn of
| any kind, and now this unusual excite
ment has brought a color to his wan
/ obnplyc on6 q briI1ionov tO his ouoc